Useful

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November 26: Matt 23-25

Useful

Scripture: Matthew (NIV) 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Observation: The inclination of the world is to climb to the most important position. Some would think that Jesus turned things up-side-down. In reality, He set things straight. When people work to exalt themselves, there are always others ready to tear them down. However when people humble themselves to serve, there will be others ready to lift them up.

Application: I am a good servant only as long as I am useful.
The downside of being useful is that I may feel “used.”
The downside of not being used is that I will feel “useless.”
The upside of being useful is that I have value to the Kingdom.
The upside of being used is that I bring joy to my Heavenly Father!

Prayer: Lord, what a privilege to be used by You and for your glory. My service is in response to your great service to me through the sacrifice of Jesus. It comes from a heart of love and thanksgiving. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Reading/Living

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November 25: Matthew 20-22

Reading/Living

Scripture: Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise’?” …

Observation: Earlier in this chapter Jesus said, “It is written … ” He said it as justification for his actions in cleansing the temple. Here (and in verse 42) he asks ” … have you never read … ?” Many times our questions could be easily answered if we but read God’s Word! In reading the Word we gain understanding about Him; in living the Word we really get to know Him. Reading it makes us want to live it; living it makes us want to read it more.

Application: The Written Word has been wonderfully provided by God to help me get to know the Living Word, Jesus. To go a day without reading the Bible would be like going a day without talking to my wife. When communication breaks down, there is a problem in the relationship.

Prayer: Lord, like our marriage, one of the best things about living for you is that it is a daily thing. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Welcoming special friends

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November 24: Matt 17-19

Welcoming special friends

Scripture: Matthew 18:5 "And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.

Observation: There are at least three things I am saying when I welcome someone into my home.
1. I am privileged and happy to have you here.
2. You are entering a friendly place.
3. You will be treated as having great value.
Of course, this should be our attitude toward children. The special blessing promised in this verse is that when we welcome children in His name, we are also welcoming Him! What I do to children, good or bad, Jesus takes it as though I personally did it to Him.

Application: Truly I want Jesus to know that I am happy to have Him in my life. My heart should be a friendly place for Him. He should feel right at home. I surely do not want to offend such a valuable guest by using inappropriate language or allowing a bad attitude.

Prayer: Lord, I welcome children and you as great friends. Please make yourself at home in my life. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Never takes His eyes on me!

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November 23: Matt 14-16

Never takes His eyes off me!

Scripture: Matthew 14:28-31 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Observation: Scot Cantrell from FaceBook on November 13: With his eyes on Jesus, Peter was able to get out of the boat and walk on water. When He took his eyes off of Him, he began to sink. But Jesus stuck His hand out and grabbed Peter because He never took His eyes off of Peter. That same reality is still true for each of us!! // This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”-Joshua 1:9

Application: With my eyes on Jesus, I can do whatever He says. But with my eyes on the storm, I am just a step away from sinking. How good it is to know that Jesus never takes His eyes off me!

Prayer: Lord, thank you for always knowing where I am and being present and ready to help. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Easily found

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November 22: Matt 11-13

Easily found

Scripture: Matthew 11:1 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

Observation: In this verse, we see that Jesus had both a private ministry to His disciples AND a public ministry to the multitude. Jesus made time available for those closest to him AND He moved among the multitudes. He was easily found by them!

Application: As I try to live like Jesus, I find I have a private ministry to my family and close friends, AND a public ministry in the world in which I work and live. They are not two separate ministries, but two directions of my one ministry: pleasing my Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, may you be blest as I serve those to whom you have sent me. May I too be easily found by those needing help. Amen.

Pastor Leon

Making friends for time and eternity!

Fallen birds and fallen hair

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November 21: Matthew 8-10

Fallen birds and fallen hair

Scripture: Matthew 10: 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.
30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Observation: Sparrows are of little value to me. I hardly notice when they die. But I am so important to God that He notices everything about me, even the number of the hair on my head. I just realized that more and more of my hair is joining the fallen birds on the ground.

Application: If the God of creation is so interested in me that he even knows the number of hair on my head, surely there is nothing about me that he does not know. A doctor may read all the lab reports but he cannot tell me anything that my God does not already know. And if God is not worried, neither should I be. He notices the sparrows, but He lives in me!

Prayer: Lord, being in your thoughts and under your care is a wonderful place to be! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

What A Book!

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November 20: Matt 5-7

What A Book!

Scripture: Matthew 4:3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Observation: Jesus, the Complete Word of the Father made flesh, answered the devil with the written word!!!! What a joy for us who look to Jesus as our example. He only used what WE have available! The Living Word was using the Written Word to overcome the devil’s temptation.

Application: No book is more important for me to know than the Bible. In it God reveals Himself to me. In it He speaks to me. He gives me encouragement and comfort, wisdom and knowledge, guidance and understanding. It is my proven sword to fend off Satan’s attacks.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the Bible. Thank you for your example in using the written word in overcoming Satan’s temptations. Teach me to do the same. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Until

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SOAP for November 19: Matthew 1-4

Until

Scripture: Matthew 2: 13 ¶ When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”

Observation: Joseph was told to go and told to stay until he was specifically told to return, which happens in verse 20. It was not up to Joseph when to return, nor up to his interpretation of the circumstances, but God’s clear word of direction.

Application: Stay there until I tell you… It is tempting to let trouble, or lack of success, or simply the desire for change set my times, but Joseph was sent to a location and told to stay “until.” When I have been given specific directions, I should stay “until.” If I went somewhere just to check it out, then I could probably leave for the same reason. But, if the Lord sent me, I have to stay!

Prayer: Lord, my commitment is to remain faithful where You have placed me until I am certain that You are directing me otherwise. Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

He Came To My Side!

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November 18: Ps 124, 2Cor 11-13

He Came To My Side!

Scripture: Psalm 124:1 If the LORD had not been on our side— let Israel say—
2 if the LORD had not been on our side when men attacked us…

Observation: Who can think of all the possible scenarios if “the LORD had not been on our side?”

Application: I know that the emphasis is not so much Him being on my side, but for me to be on His side. But sometimes in His grace, He comes to my aid even when I am not walking in His perfect will. In fact, that is what Calvary was all about. Jesus came to the side of sinners in order to bring them to His side of righteousness. Think of it: “if the Lord had not been on my side” at Calvary, I would still be lost in my sin!

In reading the New Testament and better understanding the great judgment to which I was headed, and the great gulf that separated me from God, and the great grace that brought the LORD to my side — surely I can sing this with more appreciation and feeling than ever the psalmist. Surely I each can add many of my own verses to this great anthem.

Prayer: Lord, only you know where I would be if you had not come to my side. Thank you for coming to my side! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!

Whatever action necessary…

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November 17: 2Cor 7-10

Whatever action necessary…

Scripture: 2Corinthians 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Observation: What a difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow is being convicted of the wrongfulness of the action taken. It leads to acknowledging the wrong, restitution if possible, and receiving forgiveness. On the other hand, worldly sorrow is being sorry one was caught. There is little if any acknowledgment that the action taken was wrong. The blame is placed on others. When whatever consequence is finished, there is little to prevent a reoccurrence.

Application: God desires me to be truly sorrowful for my sins and quick to repent. He wants me to be sorry enough to take whatever action necessary to stop sinning. He wants me to receive His forgiveness and walk on as a child greatly loved by his Father and whose love for his Father is well known.

Prayer: Lord, instead of making excused and blaming others, I need Your help to see sin as you see it. What a great price you paid that I might be forgiven! Amen.

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!